Dog owners need to take extra care when walking their pets on cold winter nights to cut back on the chance of causing unnecessary accidents, a leading pet insurer warns.

Tesco Pet Insurance says that if a dog runs out onto a road and causes a serious accident then under the law, the owner is liable for damages regardless of whether they have been negligent or not.

Over the past year, Tesco says personal injury claims have risen by a quarter with each now costing eight times more than vet bills. The highest claim to date came in at over £40,000 after a dog collided with a motorcyclist.

Allan Burns, head of Tesco Pet Insurance comments: "Many dog owners still seem unaware that this change to the law means they could find themselves facing massive costs from third party claims."

"All dog owners should consider pet insurance as even well trained dogs can be unpredictable in their behaviour. Nowadays, pet insurance need not be expensive, it's all about shopping around for the right type of cover at the right price," he added.